Due to its heavily populated area with various activities and warm climate year-round, Houston is a popular spot for both tourists and locals looking to engage in some outdoor adventures. Children, families and groups of friends can all find suitable sports, hunting, animals and amusements in the region.
Bayou City Outdoors is a club open to anyone interested in engaging an extremely wide range of outdoor activities. Members are men, women, adults with families, couples, singles and so forth, ranging from 18 years of age into the 80s. Each week, the club sponsors at least a few activities, including backpacking, camping, community service, trips, biking, kayaking, hiking, events for dogs, tubing, volleyball, wine tasting and much more. Member benefits include access to an online calendar of events and free admission into certain activities.
Bayou City Outdoors
8218 Mallie Court
Houston TX 77055
713-524-3567
bayoucityoutdoors.com
For an exciting and water-filled family or friend outing, visit Houston's Splashtown. Attractions and rides are numerous. On the Tornado, riders plunge down a 132 foot long slide, while the Texas Freefall takes guests down five stories of thrilling free fall enjoyment. For those individuals not brave enough to tackle the slides, the Blue Lagoon Activity Pool provides relaxing activities like a rope swing and a water fall. Most of the rides have height requirements. However, a separate family area with child-friendly activities exists.
Splashtown Houston
21300 I-45 North
Spring, TX 77373
281-355-3300
splashtownpark.com
Individuals interested in the wildlife of the area visit Shoveler Pond to see the marsh wren, purple gallinule, American bittern, waterfowl and other creatures. Alligators are also a main attraction there. Flora is abundant in the region as well, and the willows on the refuge are part of a group that migrated from the Gulf of Mexico. During the waterfowl hunting season, the refuge does allow individuals to hunt mottled duck, blue-and-green winged teal and several other species.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
409-267-3337
fws.gov
In addition to being an outdoor theater, the other special feature of the Miller establishment is that all of the events are free. Events range from music, dance, ballet, Shakespeare performances, classic films and much more. For both families and school groups, the Miller Outdoor Theater also has special children's performances. They do note that since there are no tickets, reservations cannot be made, and seating is based on a first come, first serve basis. Food is sold at the theater, and consists of casual fare, such as hamburgers and hotdogs.
Miller Outdoor Theater
6000 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
281-823-9103
milleroutdoortheater.com
